Washington (CNN) – Self-proclaimed birther Donald Trump is now so doubtful of President Obama's birthplace that he's sent a team of his own investigators to Hawaii in hopes of getting to the bottom of the issue.

That's according to Trump himself, who, in an interview with NBC, warned his investigators just might uncover "one of the greatest cons in the history of politics and beyond."
"I have people that have been studying it and they cannot believe what they're finding," Trump said an interview that aired Thursday Morning.

Asked if he has assigned people specifically to search in Hawaii, Trump said, "Absolutely."

The business mogul, who in a new NBC News/Wall Street Journal Poll is tied for second place among potential presidential candidates, also suggested the president is involved in an ongoing cover-up over the matter.

"He spent $2 million in legal fees trying on to get away from this issue, and if it weren't an issue, why wouldn't he just solve it?" he said. "I wish he would because if he doesn't, it's one of the greatest scams in the history of politics and in the history, period. You are not allowed to be a president if you're not born in this country. Right now, I have real doubts."

According to a recent CNN/Opinion Research Corporation national poll, 72 percent of Americans say that the president was definitely or probably born in the U.S., with one in four saying that he was definitely or probably born outside the country. But the survey indicates a partisan divide, with 43 percent of Republicans but only 11 percent of Democrats saying that Obama was definitely or probably born outside the U.S.

In 2008, the Obama campaign produced a certification of live birth that reports his birthplace as Honolulu, Hawaii – a document the Hawaii government says is official evidence of his birth in the state. Among other evidence of Obama's birth there is the fact the hospital where he was born took out ads in two Hawaiian newspapers in 1961 announcing the birth, while current Gov. Neil Abercrombie says he knew Obama's family and remembers his birth.

In the broad interview, Trump also insisted he's more serious than ever about mounting a presidential bid, but said he can't make a final decision until this season of "Celebrity Apprentice" wraps up.

"I hate to say it. I have the No. 1 show on NBC. Is that the correct statement? The "Celebrity Apprentice" is doing great," said Trump. "You're not allowed to have a show on and be a candidate. It's a great show and it's got phenomenal ratings, and until that show is over I can't declare, otherwise NBC would have to take the show off the air and that would be very unfair."

soundoff(299 Responses)

moabie

I think Trump should go, himself! This is too important to put into the hands of mere hirelings! He'll need...oh, about 20 years there to get everything, I think. Definitely stay on it til you find something, guy!

April 7, 2011 09:41 am at 9:41 am |

RG

Isn't this country great? This proves that even the stupid can become rich. OK, Donald, please explain how they knew in 1961, that this particular baby was going to be the POTUS, so we better announce in the newspapers. Does our government have a secret time machine? And if we did, wouldn't we go back in time and fix mistakes that were made, like "trickle down" economics? What are you going to reveal if you find out that he was born in Hawaii? Or like most, you can just switch to calling him a Muslim.

April 7, 2011 09:41 am at 9:41 am |

Really

Trump – wasting money already! Maybe he is qualified to be president? If Trump were president, we could actually get our first smoking hot supreme court justice. And, I bet the white house parties would be the wildest ever. Can you imagine the Miss America contest taking place in the west wing? Meatloaf in the kitchen.

April 7, 2011 09:42 am at 9:42 am |

Mr. Moderate

Yeah, I would venture to guess that Clinton, McCain and the RNC also sent investigators to Hawaii and they all came away empty handed. And do you honestly believe that this has not been checked out by the FBI, CIA and/or Secret Service? Or are they in on it too? Why do you hate these heros that protect this country? Why do you hate America?

Guess what Donald, my birth certificate from Missouri looks identical to the presidents and contains the same information (although it's not called the same thing). Somehow it was good enough to get a passport and has been accepted in every instance when a birth certificate was needed. That is what's issued, no doctor's signature or any of that nonsense you claim is part of the fraud.

I used to have a modicum of respect for you, I don't know what happened or what you are trying to prove. History will not remember you as a clown.

April 7, 2011 09:42 am at 9:42 am |

Paul Thompson

We still do have the privilege to question power in America, don't we?

April 7, 2011 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

GOP = Greed Over People

The making of The Donald's new docudrama for Fox has begun.

Wake me and let me know how the conspiracy hatched 50 years ago to put a "Muslim socialist" in the WH in 2008, gets to the part where the conspirators forgot to bribe the print media to suppress the printing of his birth announcement.

April 7, 2011 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

Consider This...

The sideshow continues.

April 7, 2011 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

Tina

I have never hear of any other president investigated about there birth. This is a disgrace, I would never vote For Donald trump for president.

April 7, 2011 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

bob

Hey Trump You have nothing better to do with your time and billions than to try and prove a point that's going make you and your road kill hair-do look even more ridiculous. No one will ever take you serious as a candidate There are so many more important issues burdening the U.S. such as Collective bargining, Govt Shut downs. Oil prices etc........Where do you stand on any real issues? All you are concerned about is a witch hunt of the president (while your own birth certificate reads born in Jamaica).........Donald Duck You're FIRED!

April 7, 2011 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

Barry

I think whatever Trump uses on his hair has finally reached what is left of his brain. If the Clintons and McCain couldn't find anything fishy in 2008, you have to figure there isn't anything to find.

April 7, 2011 09:43 am at 9:43 am |

Jay Kay, Minneapolis

You think Hillary Clinton didn't already have "people" turn over every stone there is on this issue? Trump is a Chump!

It's about time somebody found out THE TRUTH about Obama's birth place, and backs it up with real facts. Go forth Trump and discover why Obama is hiding behind lawyers. Anyone running for President of the USA should be forced to prove citizenship and place of birth, otherwise he/she should not be allowed to run for President.

April 7, 2011 09:44 am at 9:44 am |

Michigan Don

Trump is a great example of what the wealthy do with their excess money. They do not create jobs nor engage in ongoing act of relief for the less fortunate; rather, they stir up trouble merely for the sake of stirring up trouble.

April 7, 2011 09:45 am at 9:45 am |

jim

i thought trump was smarter than that. quite a number of independent groups have investigated the birther claim, and, without exception, they find the birthers claim to be groundless. trump clinging to this obviously false claim is a measure of just how stupid he is. I can not ... CAN NOT ... vote for someone who refuses to accept facts.

April 7, 2011 09:45 am at 9:45 am |

teresa from AZ

what an idiot!!!!

April 7, 2011 09:45 am at 9:45 am |

dan

If the Hawaiian government says it's official evidence, then the story should say, "... a document that is official evidence...", not, "...the Hawaiian government says is official evidence..." It just makes it seem like there is an actual debate about this.

April 7, 2011 09:45 am at 9:45 am |

John in Brooklyn

Trump simply cannot be taken seriously. He was a failure of a business executive, has capitalized on flash over substance in his public persona, has actively pursued the notion that women – regardless of their brains or business savvy – should place pleasing men as their top priority, and has only a little more credibility among New Yorkers than the slick barkers on the boardwalk on Coney Island. No wonder Fox News embraces him so much!

April 7, 2011 09:45 am at 9:45 am |

Annie

He is ugly both inside and outside! Too ugly too be American so i'm thinking he was born elsewhere too!

April 7, 2011 09:46 am at 9:46 am |

DChrisLM

"Self-proclaimed birther"... first words of the article. Trying to make Trump like a crazy loon, ain't it CNN? This is why FOX NEWS has been #1 for almost a DECADE now and you are in the toilet behind the Food Network. Donald is asking the questions you liberal loser media REFUSED to ask from day one. Afraid or embarrassed, which one is it CNN?

April 7, 2011 09:46 am at 9:46 am |

Bob Smith

well, well, I'm pleasantly surprised!

April 7, 2011 09:46 am at 9:46 am |

resipsa

Go Donald Go. Obama is a scam artist. Finally, someone with GUTS to go after this looser!

April 7, 2011 09:46 am at 9:46 am |

Rafael

As soon as he declares he is running he will be my guy! If Obama has a BIRTH CERTIFICATE then show it and the problem is solved. It is so simple yet Obama can't do it. We have to ask why then?

April 7, 2011 09:46 am at 9:46 am |

RR

Money would've been better spent on plastic surgery to fix those jowls

April 7, 2011 09:47 am at 9:47 am |

Mikey

President Obama needs to come clean and put this matter to rest once and for all.
It is a legal requirement that anyone running for POTUS must produce their birth certificate.
So far President Obama has not. And he has spent a lot of money trying to prevent it's release.
Put these 'birthers' out of their misery, Mr. President. Show us your birth certificate.